Top



iatented Feb. 2, 1.926.

UNlTED ST PATENT ()FFICE.

TOP.

Application filed February 23, 1922. Serial No. 538,464.

7'0 (1 xiv/1011i if may concern:

Be it known that I, JULrUs N. Caro, a citizen of the United States, residing at l-fiuchanau, in the county of Berrien and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tops, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to tops.

One of the objects oi the invention is to provide an improved top.

Another object is to provide a chromatic to jinother object is to provide a top which will exhibit a changeableblending of colors while spinning.

Another object is to provide a novelty top of attractive appearance, and simple and inexpensive construction.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear.

Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a vertical. axial section of a humming chromatic top.

Fig. 2 is a top plan thereof.

Fig. 3 is a plan of a'blank from which the handle may be formed.

Fig. 4 is a top plan of a chromatic target for the top, and

Fig. 5 is a vertical axial section of a silent chromatic top.

In general, the top comprises a body having a window through which a target is visible. The target is independently rotatable about the axis of the body, and may be provided with various arrangements of different colors, so that, while the top is spinning, different colors and color blendings are visible through the window.

Figs. 1 to 4 will first be described.

The body of the top comprises a generally conical hollow base 1, a substantially flat cover 2 and a target housing or disk 3. The base, cover and disk or housing may be made of sheet metal. The basemay be of any desired ornamental configuration and has an opening at its apex for receiving a suitable spinning point 4:. The upper part of the base is provided with openings 5 which cause the humming sound while the top is spinning. y

The upper rim of the base has a small outwardly projecting annular flange 6. The rim of cover 2 is headed and clamped over flange 6 to hold the base and cover together and form a chamber which is substantially" closed except for openings 5.

Target housing 3 is a generally cylindrical handle 10. Handle 10 may be made from a single sheet metal blank such as shown in Fig. 3. This blank has one edge formed with a number of triangular projections 11 and the other edge formed with a pair of tongues 12. The blank is rolled into a cyl inder and projections 11 are bent together to form a substantially closed-end handle.

Tongues 12 are bent outwardly to engage the under surface of cover 2 about the rim of the central opening therethrough. A

small annular bead or groove 13 may be formed near the lower end of handle 10. A split spring-wire washer 14: fits in bead 13 and serves to clamp the handle and cover together.

A target 15 is journaled upon handle 10 to rotate freely upon the axis of the top body. This target may be a circular disc of paper or metal, having a hole in its center for the passage of handle 10. A metal eye let 16 may be inserted in the hole in the v target to give a better and more lasting beari ng therefor.

The upper surface of target 15 has a number of different colors painted thereon or the colors may be painted or printed on a piece of paper or other suitable material which is pasted or otherwise secured to the target. Many arrangements of colors may be used with good and varying results.

When the top is spun in the usual manner the target, which is free to rotate independently of the top body, may turn at a different speed than the body. At first the target is relatively stationary -but, as the body continues to spin, the friction at the axle gradually accelerates the target until it may be spinning at quite the speed of the body. The rapidly moving windows give varying eiiects, sometimes like that of a rapidly moving sl-iutte-r and at' ot-her times like that of an entirely open upper surface, and, exposing the colors on the target in ever changing combinations, produce pleasing illusions of varicolored bands and splotches in shitting arrangements.

Fig. 5 shows a simpler form of top of the silent or non-humming variety. Thebody comprises a substantially flattopped disc 20 having a small downwardly projecting inwardly turned annular flange 21 providing an annular pocket. The upperwall of the body is provided with two segment shaped apertures or windows 22. A spinning pin 23 passes through an opening in the center of the body and is clamped thereto by its rivet head 24 and a washer 25.

Ahandle 26 is carried by disc 20. This handle may be formed as previously described and secured to thedisc by small tongues 27.

If the top is to be adapted for a mechanical spinner a cylindrical housing 28 may be secured to'the top of disc 20. Housing 28 may be clamped to disc 20 by tongues 29 and provided with holes in its upper wall for the spinner lugs.

A circular disk ortarget 31, similar to the one previously described, is loosely carried on pin 23 and is rotatable with respect to the pin. The holethrough thetarget may be provided with a bearing eyelet 32. The target is supported on the pin bysuitable means, such as a split spring-wire Washer '33 which clamps in az'small annular groove in pin '23. lhe chromatic action and effects of this construction are substantially the sameas those of the previously described top. I

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is i 1. A top comprising a disk having its peripheral edge turned laterally and inwardly to form an annular pocket; a cup-shape inverted housing secured to the center of the disk and centrally perforated for astem handle; a stem extending thru said housing and said disk and secured to the latterga spinning pin secured to said disk and extending axially with said stem handle; a disk loosely supported on said spinning pin and extending into the aforesaid annular pocket provided by the first mentioned disk, said first mentioned disk having aerforations thru which the inner disk may e seen.

2. A top comprising an outer disk having its peripheral edge turned laterally and inwardly to provide an annular, pocket; a stem-handle secured to said disk at its axis; an inner disk loosely engaged around said axis and extending intosaid annular pocket, the outer disk having openings thru which the inner disk maybe seen and a spinning pin located in line with the axis of said stem.

In testimony whereof I hereunto sub-- scribed-myname.

JULIUS N. CA-YO. 

